Pharmacology & therapeutics
May 1, 2004
John H Halpern
209 citations
Many hallucinogens and dissociative agents can be obtained from plants and fungi growing wild or in gardens across the United States, contrary to the common belief that such drugs are only smuggled or clandestinely produced. This article reviews botanical sources containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine, MAOIs, lysergic acid amide, anticholinergic drugs, salvinorin-A, mescaline cacti, psilocybin mushrooms, and Amanita muscaria and Amanita pantherina. Dangerous misidentification is most common with mushrooms, but a novice forager can learn to properly identify and prepare many of these plants. The article covers geographical range, drug content, preparation, intoxication, health risks, and the legal protections sought by religions like the Santo Daime and Uniao do Vegetal for sacramental ayahuasca.
Biological psychiatry
October 15, 2005
John H Halpern, Andrea R Sherwood, James I Hudson et al.
186 citations
Regular use of peyote, a hallucinogen-containing cactus, in a religious setting among Navajo Native Americans does not appear to cause long-term psychological or cognitive deficits. In a study comparing three groups—61 Native American Church members who regularly ingested peyote, 36 individuals with past alcohol dependence who had been sober for at least two months, and 79 individuals with minimal substance use—the peyote group showed no significant differences on a mental health inventory or ten neuropsychological tests compared to the minimal-use group. In contrast, the former alcoholic group showed significant deficits on all mental health scales and two neuropsychological measures. Total lifetime peyote use was not linked to worse performance. These findings may not apply to illicit hallucinogen users.
Current psychiatry reports
October 1, 2003
John H Halpern
42 citations
Hallucinogen research has largely focused on epidemiology and pathology, with little attention to religious or therapeutic uses. This paper reviews less familiar compounds like Salvia divinorum, MDMA (ecstasy), and synthetic hallucinogen analogs, along with the rare condition hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (flashbacks) and its treatment. Current clinical research and case vignettes suggest hallucinogens may have anti-addictive applications. Religious, nondrug use of hallucinogens as sacred sacraments in the US and elsewhere is also discussed. The authors argue that these physiologically nonaddictive drugs may offer legitimate societal benefits, and that methodologically sound research could support such benefits, helping clinicians address hallucinogen use with patients.